Lady Viking harriers head back to state meet

Sunday, October 27, 2013 9:19 AM

Hannah Stoffel (center), a sophomore on the Huntington North girls’ cross country team, runs downhill alongside Carroll’s Madison Fruchey (right) at the New Haven Semi-State, at The Plex, in Fort Wayne, on Saturday, Oct. 26. Photo by Steve Clark.

The Huntington North High School girls' cross country team is advancing to the state finals for the second consecutive year, claiming sixth at the New Haven Semi-State on Saturday, Oct. 26, at The Plex, in Fort Wayne, after a sixth runner tiebreaker with Fremont.

The Lady Vikings and Lady Eagles submitted matching scores of 213 at the race, but Huntington North junior Stephanie McElhaney's time of 20:55.66 for 70th bettered Fremont senior Riley McCrea's clocking of 24:47.93 for 131st, giving Coach Carrie Boxell's squad the sixth runner advantage and the final advancing spot to the state meet in Terre Haute on Saturday, Nov. 2.

Sophomore Hannah Stoffel finished 19th in 19:31.67 to lead the Lady Vikings. Freshman Cadee Harmon was next, placing 32nd in 20:08.53, followed by junior Emily Eherenman six spots later in 20:16.52. Sophomore Marissa Jamison jumped in at 55th in 20:40.94 and junior Taryn Doering captured 69th in 20:55.40 to round out the team's top five.

Senior Cassidy Johnson crossed the line shortly after McElhaney, finishing 76th in 21:04.60 to complete the team.

Carroll tallied 69 points to claim the semi-state title. Penn was close behind with a register of 73, led by junior Maddie Woods, the race's individual champion with a time of 18:10.36.

In addition to Huntington North, the other advancing spots were claimed by Pendleton Heights, third with 141, Northridge, fourth with 164 and Homestead, fifth with 168.

The top 10 individuals from non-advancing also move on to state. That group was led by Fremont senior Abigail Hostetler, who placed third in 18:20.25.